thanks very much.

>> Thank you.

>> As we approach the first presidential election since the overturning of Roe v Wade, abortion remains a central and contentious issue for voters and candidates alike.

Here and now, reporter Aditi Debnath examines how this topic is shaping the political landscape in our state and beyond.

>> Reporter.

After the U.S. Supreme Court's Dobbs decision in 2022, which overturned Roe v Wade, Wisconsin saw immediate changes.

Abortion services only to resume in late 2023 after a judge's ruling.

This legal whiplash has kept the issue at the forefront of political discourse even now.

>> There's a lot of confusion about what is allowable and what institutions are comfortable for by choice.

playing a crucial role in both state and national races.

In Wisconsin's U.S. Senate race, the contrast between candidates is stark.

>> Democratic incumbent Senator Tammy Baldwin has been a vocal advocate for abortion rights.

>> I am the leader in the fight to restore Roe v Wade through a bill that I lead called the Women's Health Protection Act.

>> Baldwin's bill would codify the right to abortion into federal law and ban states from passing additional restrictions to abortion access.

woman's pregnancy, she should have a right to choose.

>> Her Republican challenger, Eric Hovde, has a different take.

line, different than Senator Baldwin is that there comes a point where a baby can be born healthy and alive, that it's unconscionable that you would terminate that child's life.

>> Hovde position reflects a broader trend among Republican candidates grappling with the issue's complexity, a focus on late term abortions.

>> We know that overwhelming majority of abortions take place within the first trimester.

>> Jenny Higgins, director of UW Madison's Collaborative for Reproductive Equity, says late term abortions are rare abortions that happen later than the first trimester happen for excellent reasons.

These reasons include fetal anomalies that aren't detectable in the first trimester and can be fatal to the fetus.

Kamala Harris in the presidential race, former President Donald Trump has gone as far to erroneously say his opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, supports murdering babies.

Her vice presidential pick says abortion in the ninth month is absolutely fine.

>> He also says execution after birth.

It's execution no longer abortion because the baby is born is okay, and that's not okay with me.

>> Vice President Harris, in her bid for president, recently visited Wisconsin to highlight her administration's stance on abortion.

>> What these kinds of laws mean, these kinds of laws.

Under Trump, abortion bans, it means doctors may have to wait until the patient is at death's door before they take any action.

>> Gracie Skogman, legislative director of Wisconsin Right to Life, says Harris's rhetoric ignores the crux of anti-abortion advocates philosophy.

to remind people that we're talking about two lives in the equation, both deserving of care.

>> Skogman and her team are activating voters across the state to understand that abortion law is on the ballot.

>> We have some groups that are in the Appleton area, and we want people to be aware of candidates who are running and what their record is.

>> Appleton is part of the eighth Congressional District, where the abortion issue is a key topic in the race between Democrat Kristin Lyerly and ob gyn, and abortion provider and Republican Toni Wied.

A businessman endorsed by former President Trump.

protection for abortion, contraception, IVF.

>> Meanwhile, the Republican candidate has pointed out a states rights approach.

>> The Supreme Court made the decision that the right of abortion is within the state's hands, where it was before.

It is now, and I believe that it should continue to stay as a states right issue.

>> Skogman says this focus on a states rights approach ignores several legal levers at the federal level.

>> For example, right now, the vast majority of abortions are actually chemical abortions, and this is something that's federally regulated.

So that that has to be a federal conversation.

>> She's referring to a U.S. Supreme Court decision in June to preserve access to chemical abortions.

The case threatened to federally restrict access to chemical abortions, even in states where abortion is legal.

people understand, I think the sort of powers of the of the various offices at the national level.

chief strategy officer at planned Parenthood of Wisconsin.

>> A president appoints judges who are interpreting laws and hearing lawsuits.

>> Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin has been heading the legal battle over abortion at the state level, filed a lawsuit in February that the Wisconsin Supreme Court accepted.

>> That case will argue that our state constitution would not allow an abortion ban to stand because our Constitution protects the right to bodily autonomy and agency.

released a schedule for the case, but abortion remains top of mind for Wisconsin voters as we approach the first presidential election since the overturning of Roe v Wade.

overturning of Roe v Wade.